v<^ 


'^ 


scB 


iJftf!'  ■    ■?■»•«**.*«,. ^..,^_ 


^^^^<^«^^c  - 


\ 


•     "*V* 


THE  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  NEF/  ENGLAND. 


SERMON, 

E>ELI¥£RED  IN  THE  SOUTH  PARISH 

IN  ANDOVER, 
APRIL  5,  1810  ; 
BEING  THE 

ANNUAL  FAST  in  MASSACHUSETTS, 


BY  JOHN  HUBBARD  CHURCH,  a.  m. 

iPASTOR  OF  THE  CHUR'CH  IN  FELHAM,    (n.  H.) 


'..s^-^:^^i^i^iSi<H<^^gm<>>'<>}<>i<>-:<>^^ 


SUTTON,   (MASS.) 
PRINTED   AND  SOLD  BY  SEWALL  GOODRIDGE, 

1810. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2011  witii  funding  from 

Princeton  Tiieoiogicai  Seminary  Library 


littp://www.arcliive.org/details/firstsettlementoOOcliur 


A 

SERMON. 


PSALM,  cv.  44,  45. 

And  gave  them  the  lands  of  the  heathen  ; thai  they  might  cl-^ 

fewe  blsjlatutest  and  keep  his  laws, 

IJ^QR  the  glory  of  God  all  things  were  made;  and  hi?  g]  01  y 
ihould  be  the  uhimate  obje(5l  of  every  intelli.^^ent  being.  F'-/ 
every  expreffion  of  his  goodnefs  to  men,  their  obligations  to  gio- 
rify  his  name  are  increafed. 

For  the  glory  of  his  name,  God  called  Abraham  from  his  con- 
nexions and  native  land,  and  made  with  him  an  everiafting  cove- 
nant, to  be  a  God  to  him  and  to  his  feed  in  their  generations,  and 
to  give  them  the  land  of  Canaan  for  a  poflcffion.  ^  hen  the 
Ifraelites  groaned  in  Egyptian  bondage,  he  led  them  forth  by 
the  right  hand  of  Mofes,  with  his  glorious  arm,  dividing  the  wa- 
ter before  them,  to  make  himfelf  an  everlaiiing  name.  And 
he  afterwards  led  them  into  Canaan,  and  gave  them  the  Unds  of 
the  heathen  ;  that  they  might  obfert-e  his  flatuteSi  and  keep  his  la<tv:. 

Tfeefe  words  may  be  properly  appHed  to  the  firft  fettk-ment  of 
New  England.  God  gave  our  fathers  pofTefiion  of  this  land,  that 
they  might  obferve  his  ftatutes,  and  keep  his  laws  :  or,  in  other 
words,  that  they  might  promote  the  pure  religion  of  the  gcfpel. 
That  this  was  the  delign  of  our  anceftors  in  fetli'ing  in  this  li^nd, 
is  evident. 

In  the  firfi  place,  from  the  circumftances  which  induced 
their  removal. 

The  reformation  of  the  fixtcenth  century  was  extended 
into  England,  and  led  the  e(^abli(hed  Church  to  adopt  a  purer 
creed.  The  thirty-nine  articies  of  their  faith  coinprife  the 
fundamental  dodrines  of  the  golpel.  But  nill  they  adhered,  in 
fome  things,  to  the  ceremonies  of  the  Romilh  Church. 
1  o  thefe  ceremonies  many  pious  peifons  would  not  con- 
form ;  though  wiilitig  to  fubfcr  be  to  all  the  articles  of  the 
true  chriftian  faith,  and  to  the  dodtrine  of  the  facranients.  But 
King  Jam.es  I.  was  determined  to  have  one  religion  in  ceremo- 
nv,  as  well  as  in  fubftance.  Tl.ofe  who  v^'ould  not  comply 
with  his  determination  wer(3  called  Nonconfoimiils.  They 
were  alfo  called  Puritans,  brcaufe  as  a  Writer*  of  the  edabliflieil 
Church  obferved,  they  "  would  have  the  Church  thoroughly 
reformed  :  that  is,  purged  from  all  thofe  inventions,  which 
have  been  brought  into  it  fince  the  age  of  the  Apofdes,  and 
reduced  entirely  to  the  fcripture  purity." 

*  Dr*  Fulky    quoted  ifi  Prince's  N,  E.  Chronology y  page  $> 


(     4     ) 

The  Puritans,  in  three  counties  in  the  north  of  England,  were 
fcrined  inlo  tvv'o  Churches,  The  Rev.  Richard  Chfton,  a  devout 
and  facctfsful  preacher,  was  paftor  of  the  Cliurch,  whofe  mem- 
btrsbtgan  the  fettlemsnt  of  New  England,  Tht  Rev. John 
Robir.fon  rncceeded  him.  It  was  the  great  objecfl  of  Mr.  Robin- 
fonand  his  brethren  to  feparate  from  the  world.  'J  hey  were 
oppofird  to  a  reparation  from  any  of  the  Cliin  ches  of  Chrift  ; 
holding  communion  with  the  reformed  Churches  in  Scotland, 
France,  and  the  Netherlands.  They  did  not  debar,  from  their 
'communion,  thofe  of  the  Church  of  England,  who  gave  evi- 
dence of  real  pietv.  It  was  the  ccn-ruptions  of  that  Church, 
which  they  oppofcd  :  and  this  oppofition  excited  the  bittereft 
r^efcntment  of  King  James  and  his  Bifhops. 

Being  perfecuted  for  righteoufnefs'  fake,  Mr.  Robinfon  and 
his  bretjiren  contemplated  a  removal.  Although  it  was  painful 
to  leave  their  eP.aie^,  and  bid  farewell  to  their  friends  and  the 
country  which  gave  them  birth,  yet  they  could  readily  do  all  this 
for  ihe  quiet  enjoyment  of  their  religion  Accordingly  they 
began,  in  1607,  to  remove  to  Holland  ;  where  religious  fre'edoni 
was  univerfally  enjoyed.  From  Amfterdam,  the  firft  place  of 
their  refidence,  they  foon  removed  to  Leyden.  There  they 
lived  in  great  peace  and  harmony,  and  were  treated  with  re- 
lpe«ft.  Their  numbers  increafed,  until  the  communicants 
•(mounted  to  three  hundred.  But  difficulties  and  tri-ils  ftill 
awaited  them.  They  had  to  endure  fuch  labor  and  hardfnip  to 
obtain  the  means  of  fupport,  that  fome  returned  to  England. 
Many  in  England  were  difcouraged,  by  thefe  difficulties,  from 
going  to  Holland.  I  he  youth  were  in  great  danger  of  being 
corrupted  by  the  vices  and  temptations  of  Leyden.  Some  left 
their  parents  either  for  a  military  or  feafaring  life.  -And  fuch 
were  *'  the  diiTipated  manners  of  the  Hollanders,  efpecially, 
their  lax  obfervance  of  the  Lord's  day,"  that  our  pious  fathers 
could  fee  little  or  no  profpe(fl,  in  that  place,  '*  of  perpetuating 
a  Church,  which  they  believed  to  be  conftituted  after  the  fimple 
and  pure  model  of  the  primitive  Chiu^ch  of  Chrift."*  At 
length  they  turned  their  thoughts  to  America.  Here  was  pre- 
fentcd,  to  their  view,  an  extcnfive  continent,  inhabited  by  mil- 
lions of  their  fellow  men,  um'er  the  dominion  of  the  prince  of 
darknefs.  Hov/  important  to  difleminate  the  ivords  of  eternal 
life  among  this  wretched  people  !  It  was  forefeen  that  a  re- 
moval to  this  country  mufl  be  attended  with  heavy  trials  an4 
imminent  dangers.  But  their  zeal  to  propagate  the  gofpel,  and 
enjoy  its  bleflings,  infpired  them  with  unlhaken  refolution  and 
fortitude.  So  gloomiy  were  their  profpe<fts,  in  a  temporal  view, 
that  nothing  but  a  regard  to  the  gofpel,  to  its  precious  truths 
and  inCtitulions,  could  difpofe  them  to  attempt  a  removal  to  this 
?.\nd.  But  with  much  prayer  and  pious  confultation,  they 
termed  tiie  noble  defign.    1  his  defign,  they  executed  ;  bii,t  ftQ^ 

*  See  Pr bice's  N,  E,  Chronolo^j  and  Ht^lmei   Am^lst 


(     5     ) 

without  much  defa7  and  trouble.  Neail7  three  years  wers 
fpent  in  miking  arr^mgemerits  for  their  intended  enterpriie. 
New  difficulties  arofe.  :But  they  perfevered  ;  and  in  July  i6;o, 
the  pious  adventurers  failed  from  Holland  to  England.  From 
thence,  auguft5,  they  failed,  in  two  veflcls,  for  the  new  world. 
But  they  were  twice  obliged  ta  return  into  port,  by  reafon  of 
the  leakinefs  of  one  of  the  vefiels.  1  his  was  difmiffed  as  unfit  for 
the  fervice.  In  the  other  vefiel  they  fet  fail,  the  third  time  Scp= 
tembet  6.  But  when  half  acrofs  the  Atlantic,  they  might  have 
been  obliged  to  return,  on  account  of  the.  inj'ury  done  to  the 
Ihip  by  contrary  winds  and  violent  ftorm.s.  had  it  not  been  for  a 
large  iron  fcrew,  which  one  of  the  paifcngers  brought  from 
Holland.  With  this  they  repaired  the  fhip  ;  *'  and  then  commit- 
ting themfelves  to  the  divine  will.'-'  they  proceeded  on  their  voy- 
age, and  arrived  in  Cape  Cod  harbor,  November  lo.  At  Plym- 
outh, they  comm.enced  the  fetlement  of  New  England. 

Uniformity  in  the  obfervance  of  religious  ceremonies  was  flui 
enforced  in  England  ;  and  Archbiiliop  Laud  adopted  fo  rigorous 
meafures  againfl  the  Puritans,  that  numbers  of  them  croiTed  the 
Atlantic,  at  different  times,  and  began  fettlements  in  Salem.., 
Charleltov.m.  Boflon,  Dorchefter.  and  other  places,  that  they 
might  promiote  the  pure  religion  of  the  gcfpci.  i  hat  this  was 
thedeiign  of  our  anceftors,  is  evident, 

Ih  thefecond  place^  from  their  doctriRal  belief,  their  pietyj 
and  their  fubfequent  meafures. 

Mr.  P.obinfoii  was  a  learned,  orthodox,  pious  divine.  lie 
was  a  zealous  advoca'je  for  the  doctrines  of  grace.  He  and  his 
brethren  believed,  **  that  the  in/pied  Scriptures  only  contain  tos 
true  religion  ; — that  every  man  has  a  right  of  judging  for  him- 
felf,  of  trying  do<5trine3  by  them  and  of  worfhipping  according 
to  his  apprehenfion  of  the  meaning  of  them  ;— that  the  doc- 
trinal articles  of  the  Church  of  England,*  as  alfo  of  the  reform- 
ed Churches  of  Scotland,  Ireland,  France,  the  Palatinate, 
Geneva,  Switzerland}  and  the  United  Provinces,  are  agreeable  to 
the  holy  oracles; — that  every  particular  Church' of  Chrilt  is  on- 
ly to  coalilt  of  fuch  as  appear  to  believe  in  and  obey  him  •,  that 
fuch — have  a  right  to  embody  into  a  Church  for  their  mutual 
edification  ;  that  this  embodying  is  by  fome  certain  contract  or 
cavenant : — that  being  embodied,  they  have  a  right  of  ehconng 
all  their  officers  :  that  the  officers  appointed  by  Chri-It,  for  this 
embodied  Church,  are  in  fome  refpeds  of  three  forts,  in  others 
but  twO;  viz.  Paftors  or  tea-ching  elders  ; — mere  ruling  elders, 
wh'9  are  to  help  the  paf^or  in  overfteing  and  ruling:— and 
deacons. — that  thefe  officers  being  chofen  and  ordained,  have 
no  lordly,  arbitrary  or  impohng  power,  but  can  only  rule  and 
mini:' er  with  the  confcnt  of  the  brethren.  ;  who  ought  nor  "m 
contempt  to  he  called  the  laity,  but  to  be  treated  as  men  and  bre- 
thren in  Chrift,  not  as  flaTes  or  minors  ; — that  baptifm  is  a  f^al 
A  a 

*  Tke/e  are  the  doBrines  ufually  dcmmlnated  Calvmif-ic. 


(     6     ) 

cf  the  covenant  of  grace,  and  ITiouM  be  difpeafed  only  to  viable 
believers,  with  their  unadalt  children;  and  this  in  primitive  pu- 
ri')'.  as  in  the  times  of  Chrift  and  his  Apostles,  without  the  lign 
of  the  crofs  or  any  other  invented  ceremony  ;  that  the  Lord's 
Supper  ihouldbe  received  as  it  was  at  tirft,  even  in  Chrifl's  im- 
mediate prefence,  in  the  table  po'*ure.''*  For  fucb  principles^ 
•;  this  people  fufFcred  in  Enpjand.  fled  to  Holland,  traverfed  the 
ocean,  and  fought  a  dan;j:erous  retreat  in  thefe  remote  andfavage. 
deferts  of  Notth  America;  that  here  they  might  fully  enjoy. 
them,  and  leave  them  to  '.heir  laft  poderity." 

Their  piet/  v/as  no  lefs  confpicuous  than  the  purity  of  theiE 
dofrrines.  For  their  piety,  they  were  refpedted  in  Holland. 
From  the  Magif^rates  they  received  this  honorable  teftimony  : 
*'  i  hefeEngliihmen  have  lived  among  us,  now  thefe  twelve  years, 
yet  we  never  had  one  fait  or  action  come  againfi;  them."  tn  re- 
ierence  to  their  intended  removal  to  America,  Meflrs.  Robin«. 
fon  and  Brewfter  declared,  in  behalf  of  themfehes  and  their 
brethren  ;  *«  We  verily  believe  and  truft  the  Lord  is  with  us  \ 
to  whom  and  w^hofe  fervice,  we  have  given  ourfelves  in  many, 
trials,  and  that  he  will  gracioufly  profper  our  endeavors,  ac- 
t:ording  to  the  fimplicity  of  our  hearts.  We  are  knit  together 
as  a  body,  in  a  moft  ftrict  and  facred  bond  and  covenant  cf  thq 
Lord."  Their  meafures  were  marked  with  fervent  piety.' 
They  kept  two  days  of  folemn  prayer  before  they  left  Leyden. 
juft  as  they  embarked  for  England,  they  commended  them- 
ielves  with  mo;l  fervent  prayer  to  God.  Their  expedation  was 
from  him.  Before  they  left  England,  Mr.  Rclinfon,  in  a  letter 
v.'hich  he  wrote  them  from  Holland,  urged  them  *»  to  repen- 
tance for  all  known  fins  :  and  generally  for  all  that  were  un- 
known, left  God  fhould  fwallow  them  up  ia  his  judgments  ; 
to  live  in  peace  with  one  another,  and  al!  men  ;  not  to  give  or 
take  offence;  to  have  a  proper  regard  for  the  general  good; 
arid  avoid-as  a  deadly  plague,  all  private  refpe<rt  for  them-felves." 

Having  efcaped  the  dangers  of  the  ocean,  and  gained  the  har- 
bor of  Cape  Cod,  they  devoutly,  on  their  knees,  gave  thanks  to 
the  Lord  for  their  fafc  arrival.  Previous  to  their  landing,  they; 
entered  into  folemn  contra6t,  as  the  bails  of  their  government ; 
in  which  they  declared  they  had  undertaken  their  voyage  for 
the  glory  of  God,  and  the  advancement  of  the  chriftian  faith* 
As  focn  as  they  landed  they  fell  on  their  knees  **  with  hearty 
praues  to  God,  who  had  been  their  ajfurance^  when  far  off  on, 
ihe  fea."  In  this  pious  and  memorable  manner,  was  the  fejt- 
tiement  of  New  England  commenced. 

The  piety  of  thefe  worthy  men  was  feverely  tried,  by  cruel 
perfecuaon  in  their  native  land  ;  by  exceflive  labor  and  bard- 
fhip  in  Holland  :  by  a  long  and  tedious  voyage  acrofs  the  boift- 
crous  ocean ;  b^'  being  driven  upon  a  fhore,  which  was  unknown 
and  iniiofpitiiblc,  at  the  commencement  of  a  dreary  winter, 

*  Prince' {  N,  E.  Chranokgyi  page  91— 93« 


(    7    ) 

%'hen  they  were  worn  out  with  toil  and  fufFerings,  having  neither 
convenient  fhelter,  nor  means  of  comfortable  fupport>  and  be- 
i-ng  foon  viiited  with  diltrcffing  ficknels^  which,  iaafew  months 
fvvept  off  nearly  half  of  their  number.  By  means  of  fuch  Lriala, 
their  fervent  piety  became  very  manifeft. 

In  the  noble  enterprife  of  fettling  this  country,  large  num« 
bers  engaged.  Many  minifxers,  eminent  for  piety  and  minifte- 
riai  qiialihcations,  came  into  this  land,  and  were  founders  and 
paftors  of  Churches.  Multitudes  of  pious  and  peaceable  prot- 
eitants  here  fought  a  refuge  for  their  lives  and  Ub^srti^s,  with 
freedom  for  the  worihip  of  God.  Our  fathers  confidered  thia 
country  as  an  afylum  for  the  puritan  religion,  and  aimed  to  cf- 
tabhfh  Churches  as  near  the  fcripture  fi:andard  as  poflible. 

The  grand  objeft,  for  which  our  anceftors  came  into  this  wil« 
dernefs,  was  profecuted  with  becoming  zeal.  N^uch  was  done 
to  preferve  the  faith  of  the  Churches  in  its  parity.  '•  In  1637,  a 
Synod  met  at  Cambridge  for  the  fuppreffion  of  AHtinomian  and 
other  errors.  Eighty  errors  were  prefented,  examined  and  con-^ 
demned.  Great  was  the  good  which  they  effeded."*  In  1648^ 
another  Synod,  convened  at  Cambridge,  adopt e-d  the  platform 
of  Church  difcipline,  called  *•  The  Cambridge  Platform  :"  and 
in  their  refult,  they  fay,  **  This  S/nod,  having  perufed  and  con- 
fidered, with  much  giadnefs  of  heart  and  thankfnlnefs  to  God,, 
the  confeffion  of  faith,  lately  publilhed  by  the  Reverend  AflJera-* 
biy  of  Divines  in  England,  do  judge  it  holy,  orthodox,  and  ju- 
dicious in  all  matters  of  faiih.  and  do,  therefore,  freely  and  fully 
confeat  thereunto  for  the  firbfrance"  This  vote  was  unani* 
mous  "**  This  was  republilhed  as  *' their  confeffion  of  faith» 
and  as  containing  the  dodrlnes,  conAantly  taught  and  profeffed 
in  the  New  England  Cnurc'nes.''  The  fame  confeffion  of  faith 
was  again  adopted  by  the  Synod  of  1680;  and  the  Geneial 
Court  ordered  it  to  be  printed  '♦  for  the  benefit  of  the  Churches-, 
in  the  prefent  and  after  times  "  The  fame  dodrinesf  were  agaim 
pubiidy  declared  to  be  the  faith  of  the  Churches,  "  by  a  Gen- 
eral Convention  of  Minin-ers.  meeting  Ir  Bofton,  May  28,  1702." 
This  Convention  publifhed,  •*  ji  fecybnable  tejlimony  to  the  giori' 
§iis  dG^rines  of  grace  ;"  from  which  the  Rev.  Ifrael  Loring,  in  hia 
lile«5tion  Sermon,  in  1737.  gives  the  follov»ing  extras  :  ''That 
the  moll  high  God  hath,  from  all  eternity,  eleded  certain  perfona 
from  among  the  children  of  men,  to  be  brought  unto  eternal 
happinefa,  in  and  by  Jefus  Chrift  ;  and  this  decree  was  not 
founded  in  the  forefight  of  any  merit  or  goodnefa  in  the  chofeu, 
but  in  the  mere  good  pkafure  ©f  God,  who  made  choice  of 
them  ;  that  the  elected  of  God  are  in  his  everlaSing  covenant  ©€ 
redemption,  after  a  peculiar  manner,  given  unto  our  Lord  Melii'. 
ah,  who  therein  undertook  to  be  their  Head  and  their  Redeemer: 
that  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  ihajl  be,  in  his  ti  oie  and  vay,  every- 
cne  ef  them  infallibly  made  partakers  of  effedual  vocation,  and 


(     8     ) 

iJave  the  benefits,  which  he  hath  purchafcd  for  them,  applied  to 
them:  that  "fallen  man.  having  lolt  t^ie  freedom  of  his  will  lo 
fpiritual  good,  he  -.vill  not  beiieve  and  repent  and  anfwer  the  ca'l 
of  the  gofpel  untrlafupernatural  cperailon  of  the  Spirii  of  grace 
upon  him.  do  change  his  will  ;  which  operation  is  beftowed  in  a 
way  of  mere  fovereign  grace  upon  thofc  only  that  are  erdai.icd 
unto  life  :  that  upon  a  tinner's  accepting  that  fa/or  of  God  by 
faith,  God  imputes  to  him  the  right eoufnefs  of  that  active  and 
paffive  obedience,  with  which  the  Lord  Jtfas  Chrift,  appeariHg 
as  the  Surety  of  his  people,  has  fwUy  anfvv  ered  the  law  of  God  for 
them ;  and  the  finner  is  juftified  before  God,  in  that  righteoufnefs 
of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chriit  :  that  every  believer  on  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  being  by  faith  united  unto  him,  does  henceforth  glorify 
his  Lord.,  in  doing  the  works  of  evangelical  obedience  by  a 
ftrength  derived  from  him  ;  which  good  werks  are  the  fruit  and 
proof,  b^-it  not  the  caufeof  his  juftification  :  and  finally,  that  the 
faints  of  God  fhall  pcrrfevere  in  their  fancftily,  and  nothing  fh.^ll 
make  them  fall  totally  and  finally  from  that  grace,  wherein  they 
Hand,  and  may  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God."' 

The  Churches  of  Connecticut  were  regulated  by  the  Cam^ 
bridge  Platform-  until  1708;  v.hen  they  unaTiimouflv,  by  their 
Paftors  and  Delegates,  adopted  •'  The  Saybrook  Piatform','*  and 
a  confeffion  of  fait.4.  cofltaining  for  fub.f^^aiice  the  fame  doctrines, 
with  that  of  the  Afiembly  of  Divines  at  Wedminfter. 

Our  anceftors  were  thus  engaged  fvjr  the  parity  of  doctrine 
and  difcipline  in  the  Churches,  in  order  to  maintain  the  poA^er 
of  godlinefs.  For;  as  the  Rev  Ifraei  Loring  obferved  in  his 
Eledion  Sermon,  *'  It  was  well  faid  by  Dr.  Owen,  that  ^'■go/pel 
truth  is  the  only  root  whereon  gofpel  holinefs  will  grow.  If  any 
worm  corrode,  or  any  other  corrupt  accident  befal  it,  the  fruit 
will  quickly  fade  and  decay.  It  is  impoffible  to  maintain  the 
pouuer  of  gzdlinefsf  where  the  doctrine,  from  whence  it  fprings, 
is  unknov^-n,  corrupted  cr  defpifed."  Our  fathers  acted  iil 
conformity  to  this  lentiment. 

1  heir  exertions  were  happily  fucceeded.  The  Spirit  was 
poured  out  on  th^  people  and  the  wildernefs  became  a  fruiiful 
tield.  In  twenty-fcven  years  from  the  firft  plantation,  there 
were  forty-three  Church.e3  in  joint  com.nlunioft  with  one  ano- 
ther; and  in  twenty-feven  years  more,  there  were  upwards  of 
eighty  Churches,  compofed  of  kno'.vu,  pious,  and  faithful 
profeiTors.  The  Rev.  Thom.as  Prince  fays,  *  There  never  was, 
perhaps,  before  feen  fuch  a  body  of  pious  people  together  on 
the  face  of  the  earth.  For  thofe.  who  came  over  firft,  cam^ 
hither  for  the  fake  of  religion,  and  for  that  pure  religion  which 
was  entirely  hated  by  the  loofe  and  profane  of  the  world. 
Their  civil  and  eccleliaftical  leaders  were  exemplary  patterns  of 
piety.  They  encouragt-d  only  the  virtuous  to  come  with  and  fol- 
lO'V  them  I  hey  were  fo  ftri(5t  on  the  vicious  both  in  the  Church 
and  State,  that  the  incorrigible  could  not  endure  to  live  in  the 
country  and  went  back  again,   profane  f wearers  and  drunkards 


(    9    ) 

wtre  not>nown  intlie  land,"  Concerning  that  perled,  It  was 
faid  by  an  eininent  Minifter,  Rev.  Mr»  Firmin,  in  a  diicourfe  be> 
fore  the  houfe  of  Lords  and  Commons,  and  the  Aflembly  of 
olivines  at  Weftminfier ;  *'  I  have  lived  in  a  country  fevcn 
years,  and  all  that  time,  I  never  heard  one  profane  oath;  and 
£ll  that  time;  I  never  did  fee  a  man  drunk  in  that  land." 

When  fym-ptocns  of  decienfion  appeared,  our  fathers  were 
filled  wi;.h  grief  and  alarm.  Mr.  Stongfeton,  in  his  Ele<5!ion 
Sermon,  in  1668,  fays,  '•*  Alas  !  how  is  New  England  in  danger, 
this  day,  to  be  loft  even  In  New  England  ;  to  be  buried  in  its 
own  ruins  ?  How  fadly  may  we  lament  it,  that  all  are  not  Ifrael, 
that  are  now  of  Ifrael  ?  hlovv  is  the  good  grain  diminifhed,  and 
the  chaff  increafed  ?  The  firil  generation  have  been  ripened, 
time  after  time,  and  the  molt  of  them  gathered  in  as  (hocks  of 
corn  in  their  feafon ;  but  we,  who  rife  up  to  tread  the  foot= 
ileps  of  thofe  that  have  gone  before  us,  alas  !  what  are  we  !— 
What  coolings  and  abatements  are  there  charged  upon  us,  in 
the  things  that  are  good,  and  that  have  been  our  glory  ?  We 
<Iiave  abated  in  our  efteem  of  ordinances,  in  our  hungering  aad 
thirfting  after  the  rich  pro'«fions  of  the  houfe  of  God.  We  have 
abated  in  our  love  and  zeal,  in  our  wife,  tender  and  faithful 
maiiagement  of  that  great  duty  of  mutual  watehftilnels  ai^d 
^reprocf.*' 

Rulers  were  then  fo  affe^ed  with  the  declining  ftate  of  reii^" 
-gion,  that  *' in  1679,  the  Maflachufetts  government  called  a 
Synod  of  all  the  Churches  in  that  colony  to  confider  and  an- 
jfwerthefe  two  moft  important  queflions  :  (i)  W feat  are  the 
evils  that  have  provoke<l  the  Lord,  to  bring  hisjudgmcnts  on 
New  England  ?  (2)  What  is  to  be  done,  that  fo  thefe  evils  may 
he  reformed  :"  *'  After  a  day  of  fafting  and  prayer,"  which 
-was  obferved  by  the  Churches,  *'  the  Synod  fpent  feveral  days 
jln  difcourling  on  the  two  great  queftions.  The  refult,  point- 
ing out  the  fms  of  the  time,  and  recommending  a  reformatiooj, 
was  prefcnted  to  the  General  Court  *,  which  by  an  ad, — '  com- 
mended it  unto  the  ferious  confideration  of  all  the  Churches  acd 
people  in  the  jurifdidlion.*  *  nmong  their  anf.vers  to  the 
fecond  que(lion,the  Synod  advifed  the  feveral  Churches  to  an  ex- 
prefs  and  folemn  renewal  of  covenant  with  God,and one  another  : 
with  which  many  complied  ;  ajid  therefore  there  was  aconfid- 
frable  revival  among  them/*  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  fays  *  Very 
femarkable  vfas  the  bleffmg  of  God  on  the  Churches,  which  did 
not  fo  fleep.  as  fome  others  ;  not  only  by  a  great  advancement  of 
holinefsin  i he  people  ;  but  alfo  by  a  great  additi©n  of  converts 
to  their  holy  fellowfhip.  Many  thoufand  fpe»5tators  will  teftify 
thaf  they  never  faw  the  fpecial  prefencc  of  the  Great  God  our 
Saviour  m,ore  notably  difcovered,  than  in  the  folemnity  of  thefe 
opportunities,"* 

in  thofe  days,  the  Miniilers,  in  cledion  fermons  and  other 

*  Cbri/iim  Hijioryfor  ij\^)p<!ige  107  }  Qnd  Halmei'  Jhttifdi* 


f      lO      } 

difcoutfes,  labored  to  imprefs  it  on  tke  minds  of  the  people,  that 
this  ought  never  to  be  forgotten,  that  New  England  was  origi- 
nally a  plantation  of  rehgion,  not  of  trade;  that  pure  religion 
was  the  caufe  of  God  and  his  people  in  this  country  j  and  that 
ferventy  vital  piety  was  declining  even  in  thofe  Churches,  which 
were  eftablilhed  on  purpofe  to  preferve  and  promote  it.  In 
1702,  Dr-Increafe  Mather  thus  wrote  :  *'  Let  the  life  and  power 
of  godlinefs  be  revived.  That  has  been  the  iingular  glory  of 
New  England.  The  generality  of  the-  firfl  planters  were  men 
eminent  for  godlinefs.  Wc  are  the  pofterity  of  the  gtood  old 
puritan  Noncomformifts  in  England,  who  vrere  aftrid:  and  holy 
people.  Such  were  our  fathers  who  followed  the  Lord  into 
this  wildernefs.  Time  was,  when  thefe  Churches  were  beauti- 
ful as  Tirzah,  comely  as  Jerufalem,  terrible  as  an  army  with 
banners.  What  a  glorious  prefence  of  Chrift  was  there  in  all 
his  ordinances  ?  Many  were  converted,  and  willingly  declared 
what  God  had  done  for  their  fouls  ;  and  there  were  added  to  the 
Churche?!  daily  fuch  as  fhould  be  faved.  Look  into  pulpits  ; 
^nd  fee  if  there  is  fuch  a  glory  there,  as  onse  there  was.  New 
England  has  had  teachers  eminent  for  learning,  and  no  lefs  emi- 
nent for  holinefs  and  all  miniflerial  accomplifhments.  When 
will  Bofton  fee  a  Cotton  and  a  Norton  again  ?  When  will  New 
England  fee  a  Hooker,  a  Shepard,  a  Mitchel,  not  to  mention 
others  ?  No  little  part  of  the  gloiy  was  laid  in  the  duft,  when 
thefe  eminent  fervants  of  Ohrift  were  laid  in  their  graves.  Look 
into  our  civil  Hate  :  does  Chrift  reign  there  as  once  he  did  ? 
Hov/  many  Churches,  how  many  towns  are  there  in  New  En- 
gland, that  we  may  figh  over  them,  and  fay,  The  glory  is  gone  !\* 

Thus  the  fettiement  of  New  England  was  commenced  and 
prafecuted  for  the  advancement  of  pure  religion.  For  this  grand 
obje«5t,  our  pious  anceftors  left  their  native  land,  and  came  into  a 
wildernefs,  inhabited  bv  favages.  For  this,  they  labored  and 
toiled  ;  for  this,  they  fafted  and  prayed. 

From  this  vit:w  of  the  firit  fcttlem.ent  and  primitive  ftate  of 
New  England,  we  are  led  to  inquire, 

Whether  we  have  not  departed  from  the  faith  and  piety  of 
our  anee/lars  .■* 

BlefTed  be  the  Lord,  that  many  are  now  witnefTes  for  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jefus;  that  many  Churches  now  fland  *■  upon 
the  foundation  of  the  apoftles  and  prophets-,  Jefus  Chrit  him- 
feM'being  the  chief  corner  ftone."  c3  that  thi«  could  be  faid  of 
all  !  But  is  there  not  in  many  of  our  Churches,  a  great  and  la- 
mentable departure  from  the  faith  and.  piety  cf  our  anceflors  ? 
Alas  •  this  muft  be  evident  to  every  impartial  otTfvver  ;  and 
it  fhould  be  noticed  with-  the  deepeft  humiliation  and  forrow  of 
heart. 

The  faith  once  delivered  to  the  faiuts,  was  exceedingly  dear 
to  our  ance^ors.  it  formed,  under  divine  ififluence.  their  ex- 
Gt  lltnt  charaders.  'f  hrctigh  belief  of  the  tru^  h  they  were  fanc- 
tofkd,  and  prepared  fgr  the  noble  and  hazardous  eaterprife  of 


croffing  the  Atlantic,  and  eflablifhing  charches  of  Chrjft  in  a 
land  of  favages.  Had  they  been  Arminians,  Arians,  or  Socinians, 
their  religious  charaAers  would  have  been  eflentiallf  diiierent. 
Had  they  rejeded  the  capital  dodrines  of  the  gofpel  would  it 
be  too  mucfi  to  fay^'that  their  hearts  would  have  been  nnhum- 
hied,  unreconciled  to  God,  and  deftitute  of  his  love  f  But  they 
knew,  they  feit  the  power  of  divine  truth.  Thev  received  it  in 
love.  They  were  zealous  advocates  for  the  dodtrine  of  grace. 
Thefe  were  diftinfftly.  held  forth  as  the  failk  of  all  the  ^  hurches. 
A  departure  from  this  faith  was  feared  as  a  mod  deadly  evil. 
It  was  clearly  perceived  that,  if  the  dodrines  of  ^race  li  ould  be 
exploded,  the  power  of  godlinefs  could  not  be  maintained. 
Hence  they  manifefted  fervent  zeal  againfl  all  manner  of  here- 
fies;  again. 1  evei7  thing  deftniclive  of  truth  and  holincfs.  Even 
as  lately  as  ia  the  days  of  Prefident  Edwards,  the  fpread  of  Ar- 
ininran  fentiments  excited  much  alarm.  "  1  befriends  of  vital  pi- 
ety trembled  for  fear  of  the  ilTue."* — But  how  great  is  our  pref- 
ent  departure  from  the  faith  of  the  gofpel  .'*  How  inany  openly 
rejed  its  eiTential  doclriHes  ?  How  many  Churches  make  no  ex- 
plicit declaration  of  their  belief  of  the  cardinal  truths  of  re-veh- 
tion  ?  \^  hat  oppolition  is  made,  even  in  the  heart  of  New  Eng- 
land, againft  the  real  and  proper  divinity  of  the  Saviour  .  his 
atonement  and  everlafting  righteoufneis,  as  the  only  ground  of 
the  fmner's  acceptance  with  God  ;  the  perfonality  and  work  of 
the  Holy  Ghoft  in  the  falvation  of  lo^  men  :  and  again  <  other 
conneded  and  equally  important  doctrines  ?  In^ead  of  being 
valiant  for  the  truth,  how  many  are  the  zealous  advocates  of 
error  ?  Inftead  of  contending  earneftiy  for  the  faith,  they  contend 
for  fentiments,  which  fubvert  the  gofpel.  How  many  boaft  of 
their  liberality  and  catholicifm,  while  vehemently  oppofed  to 
the  capital  articles  of  the  tme  chri^.ian  faith  ?  They  can  bear 
with  almofl  any  thing,  except  the  truth.  Hence  the  outcry 
againft  orthodox  confeflions  of  faith  — How  different  is  all  this 
from  the  conduct  of  our  worthy  anceftors  ? 

A  quotation  from  one  of  the  brighteft  ornaments  of  the  New 
England  Churches^  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  may  fenre  to  fhew  our 
fad  apoftafy  In  his  "  directions  for  a  candidate  of  the  miniftry," 
he  fays ;  •'  I  mud  advife  you,  that  the  do3rines  of  grace  be  all  of 
them  always  ^ith  you.  as  the  very  fait  and  foul  of  your  fermons. 
AfTcrt  always  the  neceffity  of  turning  and  living  unto  God ;  and 
yet  fuch  an  impotency  in  the  wounded  and  corrupt  faculties  of 
man,  as  renders  a  fupcrnatural  and  regenerating  work  of  fover- 
eign  grace  neceffary  for  it.  Shew  people  how  to  plead  the  facri- 
fice  of  our  Saviour,  that  they  may  be  forgiven  ,  and  how  to  lay 
hold  on  his  righteoufnefs,  that  they  may  be  accepted  with  God. 
Shew  people  how  to  overcome,  and  mortify,  and  crucifv  their 
evil  appetites  by  repairing  to  the  crofs  of  o^r  Saviour  ;  and 
how  to  derive  ixrengtli  from  him  for  the  doing  and  the  be-aring 

*  Narrative  cf  revival  of  reli^wi  at  Njrthamptm. 


(  1*  }■ 

of  an  that  they  are  called  iintb,    S^ewthe'peoplc  of  God  how" 
to  take  the  corr.fort  ot  the  r  eternal  election,  and  fpecial  redemp-  • 
tion,  and  infuvcd  pcrfeverance :  and,  at  the  fame  time  fetch 
mighty  incenti/e".  to  holinefi  from  thofe  hc^es   Avhich  will  for- 
ever caufe  them  that  have  th^m  to  punf?  themfelves.     Gofpel- 
izetothem  ail  the  co-nmandments  of  the  law,  and  ihew  them 
how  to  obey  upon  the  principles  of  the  gofpel  :  and  how  the 
precepts  of  the  gcfpel  are  fo  many  promifes  of  it.     'A  ith  a 
ftrong  application,  ftudy  the  covenant  of  grace  ♦,  and  let  the  fpir- 
it  of  that  covenant  animate  and  regu-ate  all  yoiir  performances, 
when  you  blcfs  the  Lord  in  the  congregation?.    In  thefe  truths, 
there  are  the  articles,  which  the  Church  either  ilands  or  falls 
withal.     They  will  be  the  hfe  of  vour  minif!ry ;  nor  can  the 
power  of  godlinefs  be  maintained  without  them.     Ihe  lofs  cf 
thefe  truths  will  render  amini'>ry  in'^pid  and  uniruitful;  and  ' 
procure  this   complaint  about  the   Shepherds  :    T^e  dij'eajedyt 
ha've  tiof  Jlrengthmed,  neither  have  ye  brought  again  that  nvhich 
fivaj  dri'ven  anvayJ — Such  were  the  dire<ftions  once  given  and 
obferved  in  New  England.     But  what  eiTentially  different  di- 
redlions  are  now  given  ?  How  many  are  fyftem.atically   taught 
to  oppofe  thefe  all  important  truth?  ?  • -ow  many  are  told  to  be- 
lieve thatChriftis  the  Meffiah,  while  they  are  kept  as  ignorant 
as  poflible  of  his  true  cham(5ter  and  of  the  capital  doctrines  of  his 
gofpel  ?  The  great  Apoftle  to  the  Gentiles  did  not  teach  in  this 
manner.     He  determined  to  know  nothing  but  Chriil:  and  him 
crucified  ;    and  in  execution  of  his  defign.  he  declared  all  the 
counfel  of  God,     The  doftrines  of  total  depra'-ity,   regeneration 
by  fpecial  grace,  ele(^ion,  justification  by  faith,  'the  final  perfe° 
verance  of  the  faints,  and  the  eternal  deity  of  the  Saviour,  he 
plainly  and  fully  taught.     The  pious  fathers  of  New  England 
aimed  to  follow  him.    But  how  many  now  rife  up,  and  either 
openly  or  implicitly  ftigmatize  them  as  bigots  ?    Alas  !   how- 
great  is  our  degeneracy  ! 

Our  apoftafy  further  appears  from  the  oppofition  that  is  mad^' 
againlt  revivals  of  religion,  which  are  produced  by  the  fpecial 
operations  of  the  Holy  Ghoft.    It  is  the  object  of  many,  at  this  - 
day.  to  difcreditand  reproach  fuch  revivals  ;   and  to  reprefent^-;, 
the  gracious  exercifes  of  real  converts  as  the  reveries  of  deluded'' 
fanatics  or  wild  enthu(iaP-s.    But  in  the  early  days  of  Ne^v  Eng* 
land,  who  ever  kne  at  fuch  opposition  to  the  power  of  godlinefs  ? 
Then  nothing  was  thought  more  important  or  m.ore  joyful,  than**- 
for  Gort  to  pour  out  his  Spirit,  and  revive  his  work  in  the  con^^ 
verfion  of  fmners     As  an  example  of  this,  I  will  recite  the*" 
%yords  of  Mr  Roger  Clap,  a  worthy  member  of  the  Church  in''' 
Dorchefter.    "  Many  joined  unto  the  feveral  Churches    where"'; 
they  lived,  confefling  their  faith  publicly,  and  fhewing  before  ali^' 
the  afTembl^  their  experiences  of  the  workings  of  God's  Spirit 
in  their  hearts,  to  brmg  them  to  Chri^. — O  the  many  tears,  that  ' 
have  been  (Led  in  Dorchefter  meeting  houfe,  at  fuch  times,  botk 
by  thofe  that  have  declared  God's  work  on  thefr  fouls,  and  alfo 
by  thofe  that  heard  them  \  In  thofe  days,  Cod,  even  our  God, 


r  ^3  ) 

^Jd  blefsNev.' England.*'*— About  the  year  Tf4e,  there  \ra'?  a 
revival  of  gctilinefs,  r^'hich  exerted  great  ;oy  in  the  Kew  England 
Churche*.     The  Rev.  Mr.  Foxcroft  of  JBoilon  wrote  thus  con- 
cerning it :  "  Let  every  new  coiiverfion  we  fee  or  hear  of,  open 
a  freOi  fpring  of  joy  in  our  hearts,  and  fill  our  mou  hs  wiih 
praife.     As  the  number  of  converts  in  Zion  in  this  remarkable 
day  of  divine  power  and  grac2,  is  on  the  increnting  hand,  and 
much  people  are  daily  added  to  the  Lord  in  one  place  and  another, 
how  Should  all  that  would  approve  themfelvep  lovers  of  Chnfl: 
and  fouls,  rejoice  and  give  thanks  !  Praife  ye  the  Lord  :  praife 
the  Lord,  O  my  foul. — O  how  fhould  we  nragnify  the  /-ord 
with  thankfgiving,   v/ho  is  fo  marvellonny,  at  this  day,  vifitiug 
our  land,  to  take  out  of  it  a  people  for  kis  nanse,  and  in  fo  extenfivc 
a  manner  re-vi'ving  kis  nuork  among  us.     May  it  fpread  ftill  more, 
till  the  whole  land,  yea,  the  whole  earth  is  filled  with  the  glory 
of  the  Lord/'t — In  1743.  a  Convention  of  about  feventy  Min- 
iftersj  in  Bofton,  declared  publicly,    to  the  glory  of  fovereign 
grace,  their  full  perfuafion  that  there  had  been  a  remarkable  and 
happy  revival  of  religion  in  many  parts  of  this  land,  through  an 
uncommon  divine  influence  ;  and  they  add,  *'  Thus  we  have  de- 
clared our  thoughts  as  to  the  work  of  God,  fo  remarkably  re- 
vived in  many  parts  of  this  land.     And  nO'V  we  dehre  to  bow 
the  knee  in  thankfgiving  to   the  God  and  Father   of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Clirift,  that  our  eyes  have  feen,  and  our  ears  heard  fuch 
things.*'     Such  joy  and  gratitude  were  then  exprelTed.    Rut 
what  oppofition  now  appears  to  the  fame  work  of  fovereigft 
grace  ?  How  many  treat  it  with  open   contempt  ?  How  many 
rejoice  to  hear  the  dodtrines  of  grace  exploded,  and  revivals  of 
religion  reproached  as  fanaticifm  and  delufion  ?  1  hey  wilh  for 
teachers,  who   will  fpeak  fmooth  things,  and  not  alarm  them 
by  faithftilly  declaring  their  total  depravity  of  heart,  and  their 
abfolute  need  of  fpecial  grace.      They  wilh  to  live  as  thev  lift, 
and  ftill  indulge  their  fond,  though  delufive,  hopes  of  future 
happinefs.    As  a  natural  confcquence  of  this  oppoiltion  to  the 
truth  and  to  the  power  of  godlinefs,  thete  ha=i  been  a  great  and 
lamentable  change  in  the  morals  of  New  England,      Some   fay 
that  the  dodrines  of  grace  tend  to  licentioufnefs.    But  fads  con- 
tradid  the  aflertion.    It  is  not  the  truth,  but    herefy,  which 
tends  to  hcentioufnefs.    The  morals  of  New  England  have  been 
the  pureft,  when  the  truth  kas  been  moft  faithful ly  lautht,  ard 
moft  generally  received.     Jn  proportion  as  the  true  dodrines  of 
the  gofpel  have  been  oppofed,   and  their  oppofite  errors  pro- 
pagated, have  vice  and  immorah  ty  abounded= 

*  Cited  in  tlx  Chrijlian  hijlnry^  page  7Z. 

\  Chrifiian  hijlory^page  135. 

t  Ten  of  thefe  belonged  to  Bofion.  Upwards  of  forty  Mlnifers 
nvbo  -Ji'ere  not  prefent>  fent  forrjjard  their  ^written  tejlim^nies  "to  the 
^r)rk  of  God^s  grace,     Tbefe  ^erepublifbed  in  tlx  chrijlian  hiflory. 


f  1-1  ) 


.  1];;it  fo  many  Clinvc'ies  have  left  the  gofpel  foundation,  is 
ariother  proi)f  ofour  apoftjuV.  I'hc  good  oid  way,  which  our 
iithors  trod,  is  ibrf^ikcn.  Churches  were  not  only  formed  witli 
tiic  gre.ittfl  care,  but  our  fathers  were  alfo  very  careful- and  ftrid 
ill  Ihc  adniifiion  ol  members.  No  ;?t:vfon  was  admitted  to  full 
i-ommun'on,  wlio  did  not  give  hopt^ul  evidence  of  being  a  fub- 
jcOTc  of  fptcial  renewing  grace.  Thofe  who  wifhed  for  admif- 
fioiK  were  c-irefully  examined  by  the  mihifler  andfomeofthe 
In-cthreiu  Much  pains  were  taken  "  to  prevent  the  pohuting  of 
the  ordinanc-',  by  llicii  as  walk  fcandaioufly,  and  to  pre\'ent 
r.ien  and  women  from  eating  and  drinking  their  own  condemna- 
ti<m"  Bat  how  many  are  now  admitted  to  full  communion, 
without  ;iny  fuch  examination,  and  without  any  evidence  that 
they  have  been  renewed  by  fpecial  grace  ?  When  Churches 
were  ca'-efui  and  ftrid:  in  admitting  members,  they  maintained 
gofpel  difcipline.  But  how  m.uch  is  difcipline  now  oppofed  and 
ijeglcded  ?  This  evhices  Churches  to  be  in  a  ftate  cf  great  de- 
cienfion.  if  not  nigh  unto  ruin.  *'  When  apoftafy  prevailed  in  the 
^tialic  Churches/'  fays  Dr.  Increafe  ^JaLher,  "  there  was  the 
original  wound.  They  did  nctbrandiOi  the  fw ord  of  difcipiine» 
which  is  Chrift's  own  expedient  and  appointm.ent  for  the  prefer- 
vation  of  Churches  in  purity;  yea,  this  was  a  fatal  negle<5i:, 
which,  by  degree?,  proved  ruinous  to  thofe  once  famous  and 
glorious  Churches.  The  negled  of  difcipline — brought  in  cor- 
ruption of  manners  ;  and  corruption  of  manners  was,  through 
the  jufl  revenging  hand  of  God,  attended  v^ith  coiTupdon  of  doc- 
trine ;  and  thefe  together  provoked  the  Lord  to  lay  thote 
Churches  moft  defolate.'*  **  So  it  was  with  the  once  famous 
Churches  of  Bohemia  ;  remiiTnefs  in  their  difcipline  proved  their 
ruin  '■'  How  ir>uch  do  we  difcover  of  the  fame  apoftafy,  in 
many  of  our  Churches  ?  In  how  many,  is  difcipHne  wholly  laid 
afide  ?  How  many  members,  guilty  of  herefy  or  immoral  con- 
dud.,  pafs  unn-jticed  and  unreproved  ?  How  deplorable  is  the 
ft  ate  of  fuch  Churches  ? 

-Another  thing  which  manifefts  oar  declenfion  is  the  divifion 
among  profeffing  chriftians.  In  the  early  days  of  New  England, 
there  was.  a  very  happy  union.  "Then"  fays  the  Rev,  Mr. 
Shepard  of  Charleflown,  "  might  be  fecn  magiftraies  and  min- 
iflers  togeihcr  in  way  of  advice  :  minifters  and  minifters  cleaving 
together  in  way  of  conmiunion  : — Churches  and  Churches  to- 
getherinway  of  confultaticn,  by  greater  and  lefler  fyno<ls; 
magiil rates  and  minifters  and  their  people  togetlier,  uniting 
hands  aud  liearts  in  the  cooimon  cauft,  breathing  a  public 
fpirit.  and  confpiriug  with  holy  zeal  and  vigor,  to  advance  the 
kingdom  of  ChriO-.''  Of  the  fame  period  the  Rev.  Jame  •  Fitch, 
of  Norwich,  in  Connecticut,  fay?.,  "  O  the  uniting  glory  then 
manii^lt  ; — grace  ruling  and  ordering  boch  rulers  and  people 
luidcr  th.e  gloi'iou.s  banners  cf  true  gi.-fpel  koly  love  Then 
were  colonies  united  and  a^urts  united  ;;  magiftrates  u'lited  and 
jsuiufkcr'o  united  ;  Churdrics  united  and  plantations  united." 


(     15     ) 


But  what  a  fpirit  of  divifion  now  prevails  ?  And  to  what  is  this 
ovving,  but  to  a  departure  from  the  truth  r  If  all  who  profcfs  relig- 
i(Ui.  received  in  love  the  lame  dodrincs,  the  prefent  divifion  would 
not  exist.  But  the  fact  is,  that  while  fome  adhere  to  the  efTen- 
tial  ductrlnes  of  the  ^-ofpd,  others  rejefc  them.  They  depart 
from  the  faith.  Hence  divifons  arife.  Many  atttn^pts  are 
male  to  fo  .v  difcord  among  r^al  bretliren  ;  and  to  prevent  tbelr 
uniting  to  defend  and  propagate  the  truth.  Kerelits  aie  ii;- 
duftrioufly  circulated.  By  means  of  thefe,  ib.y^vhy  ar-  approx'^^d 
ar^  m.id:i  manlfejl  ;  thofe  who  choofe  darknels  rather  ih.m  li^jht 
are  alfo  made  manifett.  Saith  the  Apoitic  John,  *'  They  went 
out  from  us,  but  they  were  not  of  us ;  for  if  they  had  been  of  us, 
they  \vould  no  doubt  have  continued  with  us ;  but  they  went 
out,  that  they  might  be  made  manifeft  that  they  were  not  all  of 
us." 

The  profanation  of  the  Sabbath  evinces  mir  apoflafy.  This 
holy  day  was  veiy  facrediy  obferved  by  our  picus  anceftors. 
Legiflators,  and  magiftrates,  and  heads  of  families  were  zeal- 
oufly  engaged  to  prevent  the  profanaiion  of  the  day.  T  heir  au- 
thority and  example  had  great  and  happy  infiuencc.  But  how 
much  is  the  fabbath  now  profaned  K  How  many  fpend  it  in 
jourr»cying,  in  vifiting,  in  parties  of  pleafnre,  in  nrirth,  in  rioting 
and  wantonnefs  :  no  man  forbidding  the}?i  !  How  a!e  the  youtii 
fuffered  to  walk  about,  and  from  houfe  to  houfe,  and  profane 
the  day  by  vain,  if  not  corrupting  converfetion  ?  V*'hat  num- 
bers come  to  untimely  deaths,  in  the  rnidft  of  their  heaven  dar- 
ing profanation  of  the  fibbath  ?  How  many  otrn^rs,  by  profan- 
ing the.  day,  form  habits  of  wickednefs,  which  brhig  upon  them 
fure  and  dreadful  deftrudtion  .'' 

Another  thing  which  manifefts  our  fad  declenfion  is  the  neg- 
lect of  family  worfhip,  and  the  religious  education  of  children. 
Our  fathers  adopted  this  maxim,  that  "  families  are  the  nurferies 
for  the  church  and  commonwealth  :  .rtiin  families  and  you  luiii 
all.'"'  Tf-eirhoiifcs  were  Babelsy  in  which  GcvA  was  wonliipped 
fcvery  morning  and  evening.  Kis  biefiing  was  humbly  fought ; 
and  his  goodnefs  gratefully  acloiowledged.  ChiJdrtn  were  early 
taught,  by  e:<anijyle,  to  fear  the  Lord,  .ind  to  feck  his  g^.ace  by 
praver.  But  now  *^  the  great  wound  and  mifcry  of  New  Englafi<! 
i.s,  that  fimilie?  are  out  of  order."  In  how  many,  is  prayer  whol- 
ly neglcifted  ?  Sor.ie  mav  ;;tlend  the  wcr{h.ip  i^i  God,  occafion- 
ally,  or  when  they  think  it  W(^uid  be  ptculiaiiy  difgraccfsi  to 
onrt  it.  How  m.any  think  it  would  be  a  lofs  of  time,  to  leave 
their  worlcily  employments,  in  order  to  wait  on  God  {ox  liis  blef- 
fing  ?  V-,  hat  a  fpirit  of  impiety  is  this  !  ^nd  do  not  fomc  heads 
cf  families  attc'.id  prayer,  whilii  tliey  deny  this  privilege  to  their 
fep/ants  and  hired  laborers  I  They  treat  thefe  as  if  they  had  no 
God  to  ferve,  no  fouls  to  fave  !  How  muft  God  regard  the  pray- 
(^rs  of  thofe  who  love  the  world  more  than  they  love  him,  or  the 
fouls  of  men  ? — Hoa'-  diftrciTing  to  hear  no  prayer  in  a  family  \ 
How  inconliftent  and   impi-i^us  is  the  condiuft  of  many,  ^^q 


(    16   ) 

abound  in  thanks  to  their  fellow  creati/t-ea,  but  give  no  thanks  to 
thtir  great  Creator  ?  In  God  they  live  ;  and  bis  goodntfs  is  the 
prime  fdiirce  of  all  their  bkffings  ;  and  yet  they  praAicaliy  fay, 
there  is  no  Gcd  ! 

Children  are  alfo  greatly  neglc<5tcd.  They  are  not  fo  general- 
ly dedicated  to  God  in  baptifm,  as  they  were  in  the  early  days 
<>if  -\^ew  England.  The  learned  and  godly  men,  who  compofed 
the  firft  Churches  in  this  landjneverconfidered  the  bapjifmofthe 
believers  children  as  a  haman  invention  ;  bat  as  a  divine  inflitu- 
tion,  and  of  equal  authority  and  importance  with  the  baptifm  of 
the  believer.  Upon  this  principle*  the  pure  and  orthodox 
Churches  of  New  England  were  firft  formed.  Pious  parents 
efteemed  it  a  great  privilege  to  dedicate  their  children  to  God  in 
baptifin.  I  hey  did  it  in  faith,  and  with  fervent  prayer.  The 
children,  thus  dedicated  to  God,  were  confidered  as  being  in  a 
peculiar  relation  to  the  Church,  and  under  its  care  and  watch. 
••  As  for  the  children  of  the  covenant,"  faidElr.  Jncreafe  Mather, 
"  let  difcipUne  be  extended  towards  them  according  as  they 
are  fubjects  capable  thereof.  Did  not  our  fathers  ccme  hither  in 
hope  that  they  ihould  leave  their  children  under  the  difcipUne 
:2.'Mi  ^'overnment  of  the  Lord  Jefus  in  his  Chtirch  .^  Hath  not 
Chvii't  owned  the  application  of  folemn,  public  admonitions,  &c. 
to  fome  of  them  that  have  been  children  of  the  Church,  though 
not  in  full  communion,  fo  as  to  convert  their  fouls  thereby  I" 
The  Churches  were  then  blefled  with  times  of  refreshing  from 
the  prefence  cf  the  Lord.  In  fulfilment  of  his  promife,  he  pour- 
ed his  Spirit  on  their  feed  ;  and  numbers  came  forward,  and  fub- 
fcribed  with  their  own  hands  to  be  the  Lord's.  But,  of  late 
years,  how  lamentable  has  been  the  change  I  How  many  who 
have  pra(5tifed  infant  baptifm,  have  not  duly  attended  to  its  im- 
port and  defign,  nor  faithfully  difcharged  the  duties,  which  it 
involves  I  Children  have  been  confecrated  to  God,  and  then  left 
to  their  own  wayward  inclination.^  And  what  have  Churches 
done  to  prevent  or  remove  this  evil  ?  Have  they  been  duly  at- 
tentive to  their  children,  or  fuitably  concerned  for  their  falva- 
tion  ? — To  fay,  *  We  are  not  agreed  about  this  pp.rt  of  our 
duty,*  is  too  much  evidence  of  apoftafy.  This  difagreement 
may  arife  irom  our  negled:  of  duty.  Had  oui  Chinches  been 
faithiul.  our  duty  might  Ivive  been  plain.  1  htn  their  practice, 
in  coiHicxion  with  the  word  of  God,  vv-ould  have  marked  out 
i\  plain  pach.  But  having  fo  much  and  fo  long  forfaken  the  good 
old  u  ay,  ii  is  difficult  finding  it. 

Our  negledt  of  the  children  of  the  Church  has  had  another 
very  bad  effed:.  U  has  excited  firong  prejudices  againft  infant 
baptifm.  Many  have  openly  denied,  and  warmly  oppofed  it. 
But  this  is  a  fad  departure  from  the  faith  and  pradice  of  the  pi- 
ous fathers  of  New  England,  as  well  as  of  the  great  body  of 
Chrift's  faithful  followers  ever  fince  his  afcenfion.  Even  Church- 
es, that  the  Lord  has  peculiarly  blefled  with  his  prefence  and 
grace,  have  been  reproached  and  reviled  a&  Churches  of  arii- 


(     17    } 

cfirift  :  and  the  children  of  God's  people  have  been  taught  to 
defpile  the  feal  of  the  covenant.  The  confequence  has  been, 
that  many  of  our  youth  are  vain,  thoughtlefs  and  inattentive  to 
religion.  The  more  infant  baptifm  is  denied,  and  children  neg- 
lectedj  the  more  deplorable  thtir  ignorance  and  ftupidity.  This 
lame:;tabic  fact  has  been  witnelfed  in  New  England. 

Catechetical  inftrudion  is  greatly  negleded.  In  former  times, 
the  aliembly's  catechifm  v/as  ufed  in  all  our  fchools.  Much 
pains  were  taken  to  teach  the  youth  this  excellent  fumciary  of 
ohriflian  faith  and  practice,  '"i  he  Bible  was  a!fo  univcrfallyreaci 
in  fchools.  The  effcds  were  ver\'  happy.  Children  v.ere  early 
acquainted  with  the  fcripture«.  A  worthy  minifter  has  told  mc 
that  the  whole  fcripture  hi'jlory  was- familiar  to  him  at  the  age 
of  fcven  yeai  s.  But  from  this  good  cid  way  there  are  fad  de- 
part i;r..v-\  1  he  Bible  and  catechifm  aie  much  laid  afide,  in  edu- 
cating children,  both  in  fchools  and  families.  1  he  eiilcis  are 
very  evidei^t  and  alarming.  Many  come  forward  hito  adtive  life, 
i/iiorant  of  the  firft  principles  of  the  oracle-'  of  God.  Such  per- 
f'M.s  ire  eafily  "  toffed  t®  and  fro,  and  caiTied  about  with  every 
witid  of  dodtrine,  by  the  Height  of  men,  and  cunning  crafLinelii, 
whereby  they  lie  in  wait  to  deceive." 

Our  conduct,  in  otiier  refpects,  teftiiics  that  we  have  departed 
from  the  primitive  piety  of  New  England.  A  pious  and  learned 
minifler  of  Roxbj.iry,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Danfort.'^,  in  hi^  electioa 
fermon,  1670,  fays,  *'  In  our  fini  and  bed  times.,  tlie  kingdom  of 
hraven  broke  in  upon  u^^  v.iih  a  holy  violence,  and  every  ma;i 
prei-ed  into  it.  What  mJghty  eiTicricy  and  power  had  the  clear 
and  faithful  djfpenf^.tion  of  the  gofpel  upon  your  nearts : — Ko^v 
careful  vere  you,  even  all  forts,  yonng  and  old,  high  and  low,  10 
take  hold  of  the  opportunities  of  your  fpiritual  good  and  edifi- 
cation, ordeiing  your  fecular  affairs  fo  as  not  to  interfere  with 
your  general  calling  ?  How  diligent  and  faithful  in  preparing 
your  hearts  for  the  reception  of  the  word  ? — How  attentive  in 
hearing  the  everlafting  golpel  i" — How  fervent  in  prayer  to  God 
for  his  blefling  on  the  feed  fown  :  O  what  an  eftcem  for  Chrilt's 
faithful  ambairadors  in  thofe  days  ?  How  precious  v/ere  they  in 
your  eves  ?  counting  yourfelves  happy  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  pi- 
ous, learned,  and  orthodox  miniftr%'.  V^  hat  ardent  defires  after 
communion  with  Chrift  hi  his  ordinances  ?  What  fclicitude  to 
feek  the  Lord  after  the  right  order  ? — O  how  your  faith  grew 
exceedingly  r — O  ho^vyour  love  towards  each  other  abounded  ?" 
Thus  fpake  this  godly  man.  But  what  would  he  new  fay  of 
New  England  :  Would  lie  not  fry  that  the  words  of  his  dear 
fellow  labojer,  Dr.  Increafe  Mather,  were  verified  ?  '*  If  fuch 
places,  where  the  houfe  of  God  hath  been  ere<fted,  do  once  de- 
generate, they  are  like  to  become  Eeiha'venSi  places  of  ihe  great- 
eft  vanity  and  iniquity  in  the  world. — Gilgal  was  once  famous 
upon  rehgious  accounts. — Br.t  in  after  generations,  it  was  a 
fountain  of  much  wickednef*  All  thtir  -iuickcdncu  'iuas  in  Gii' 
B  ^ 


(     i8     ) 

g^al.  The  devi!  (teks  to  corrupt  thofe  places  efpedally,  which 
once  were  famous  for  religion. — Wittemburg  in  Gernnany  was 
the  town,  where  the  reformation  in  Luther's  time  began  ;  and 
therefore  the  devil  did  feek  to  corrupt  that  place  efpecially,  and 
ciufed  it  to  become  the  feat  of  grievous  herefies/'  How  much 
i  ^  this  to  be  feen  in  our  land  ?  How  great  and  lamentable  is  the 
change  in  m.any  congregations  ?  What  contempt  of  the  gefpel 
and  its  inftitutions  is  manifefted  ?  What  herefies  are  advanced  ? 
What  ftupidity  prevails  ?  How  diffipated  and  profligate  are  ma- 
ny ?  How  many  profelTors  of  religion  may  be  founds  who  are 
iiowife  diftinguifhed  fiom  the  world,  by  their  fobriety,  or  atten- 
tion to  religious  duties  ?  In  fhort,  how  much  do  eiTor  and  impi- 
eiy  abound  in  places  once  famous  for  evangelical  tmth  and  holi- 
Kefs. 

It  was  not  \o\-c  of  the  world,  but  the  love  of  God,  which 
brought  our  anceP.ors  tothis  land.  They  fought  firft  the  king- 
dom of  God  and  his  righteoufnefs.  But^'the  intereftof  New  En- 
gland is  now  changed  from  a  religious  to  a  worldly  intereft  ;  and 
in  this,  is  our  great  radical  apoltafy.''  The  great  object  of  purfuit 
is  worldly  gain.  iMukitudes.have  adopted  it  as  their  maxim, 
t\\2it  gain  is  godlinefs.  Confequently,  fraud,  deceit,  lying,  con- 
tention, injullice.  extortion, and  all  kinds  of  bafe  and  iniquitous 
Speculation  greatly  abound.  1  hrough  love  of  the  world,  many 
trample  on  divine  authority,  negled  their  fouls,  reject  the  great 
lalfation,  and  purlue  the  downward  road  to  endlefs  perdition. — 
How  many  religious  profcifors  love  the  world  and  the  things  of 
tile  world  ?  Hoa^  liitle  of  the  favor  of  godlinefs  is  perceived  in 
tlieir  condud:  and  converfation  ?  Alas  !  they  feek  their  owi, 
not  the  things  which  are  Jefus  Chrift's. 

How  much  do  we  fail  of  treading  in  the  ftepa  of  our  anceft- 
ors  r  How  different  is  our  charadcr  from  theii*3  ?  What  differ- 
tnt  objects  engage  our  attention  I  Alas  !  alas  !  Where  is  the 
primitive  glory  of  New  England ! 

How  great  is  our  guilt  !  T  his  is  increafed  in  proportion  to 
the  obligations  we  have  violated.  And  what  people  has  been 
more  highly  favored  ;  what  people  has  been  laid  under  greater 
obligations  to  be  holy  i  *'  As  for  fpecial  relation  to  God  ;"  fays 
?^Ir.  Stoughton,  '*  whom  hath  the  Lord  more  fignally  exalted 
than  his  people  ia  this  wildernefs  ?  The  name,  and  intereft  of 
God.  and  covenant  relation  to  him,  have  been  written  upon  us, 
in  capital  letters  from  the  beginning — As  for  reftipulations  and 
engagements  back  again  to  God  ;  what  folemn  public  traufac- 
^.ons  of  this  kind  have  there  been  among  us  .''  Hath  not  the  eye 
*)f  the  Lord  beheld  us  laying  covenant  engagements  upon  our- 
.  fslves  ?  Hath  not  his  ear  heard  us  folemuly  avoucliing  him  and 
Mm  alone  to  be  our  God  and  Saviour  ? — As  for  our  advant:iges 
and  privileges  in  a  covenant  ftate  ;  if  any  people  in  the  world 
have  been  lifted  up  to  heaven,  as  to  thefe,  -oje  are  the  people. 
Name  what  you  will  under  this  head.,  and  we  have  had  it.  We 
have  had  Mofes  and  .-^aron  to  kadus  j  we  have  had  tcachi^ss 


(     19     ) 

and  mftriiAions; — we  have  had  ordinances  and  gofpel  diTpenfa- 
tiona  the  choiceft  of  them  ;  we  have  had  peace  and  plenty  ;  we 
have  had  afflidtions  and  cha'^ifements  in  meafure  ;  vre  have  had 
the  hearts,  and  prayers,  and  blefTmg  of  the  Lord's  people  every 
where  ;  we  hAve  had  the  eye  and  hand  of  God  watching  and 
working  every  way  for  our  good  ;  our  adt'erfarles  have  had  their 
rebukes,  ^e  have  had  our  encouragements  and  a  wall  of  fire 
round  about  us.  What  more  could  have  been  done  for  us,  than 
has  been  done? — And  then  as  to  New  England's  firft  ways;, 
glorious  things  might  here  be  fpoken  unto  the  praife  of  free 
grace,  and  to  juHify  the  Lord's  expectations  upon  this  ground  ? 
Surely  God  hath  fpaken  concerning  his  Churches  here  as  in 
Jeremiah,  ii.  2.  /  remember  the  kindnejs  cf  ihyyotith,  the  loi'e  of 
thine  efpoufalsf  q.vhen  thou  auentej2  after  me  in  the  ^jsildernefs.  O 
what  were  the  op>en  profeflions  of  the  Lord's  people  that  firil 
entered  this  wildernefs  ?  How  did  our  fathers  entertain  the  gof- 
ptl,  with  all  the  pure  inftitutions  thereof,  and  thofe  liberties, 
which  they  brought  over  ?  What  was  their  comrn:jnicn  aiid  fcl- 
lov/ftiip  in  the  adminiftration  of  the  kingdom  of  Jcius  Chrift  f 
What  was  the  pitch  of  their  brotherly  love,  of  their  zeal  for 
God  and  his  ways,  and  againft  ways  defirudive  of  truth  and  ho- 
Knefs  ?  What  was  their  humility,  their  niortificadon.  their  ex- 
emplarinefs  ?  How  much  o^  holbufs  to  thi  Lord  was  written  upon 
all  their  ways  and  tranfactions  ?  Godfiftcd  a  vjbole  natl-.n^  that 
hi  might  fend  choice  grain  O'ver  into  this  (wildernefs''  Such,  nay 
brethren,  have  been  our  obligations  to  be  a  holy  people  :  and 
our  obligations  have  been  continually  increaHug.by  rnanife:'^.ations 
of  divine  goodnefs.  New  England  has  been,  in  a  peculiar  fcnfe, 
the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  where  he  has  looked  foi  the  fruits  of 
righteoufnefs.  But  we  have  yielded  tlie  grapes  of  Sodom.  W'e 
have  brought  forth  iniquity.  To  us.  the  Lord  may  fay,  **  Ah, 
fmful  nation,  a  people  laden  with  iniquity  ; — children  that  are 
corrupters  I  they  have  forfaken  the  Lord  ;  they  have  provoked 
the  holy  One  of  Ifrael  unto  anger:  they  are  gone  away  back- 
ward.'' "  Remember,  therefore,  from  whence  thou  art  fallen, 
and  repent,  and  do  the  firH  works ;  or  elfe  I  will  come  unto  thee 
quickly,  and  will  remove  thy  candleftick  out  of  his  place,  ex- 
cept thou  repent. — He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the 
Spirit  faith  onto  the  Churches.** 

NOW",  my  Brethren  and  Friends,  what  fhall  be  done  .?  Shall 
we  continue  to  depart  from  the  friith  and  piety  of  our  anccftors  ? 
Or  (hall  we  make  every  pofSble  exertion  to  revive  and  promote 
the  pure  religion  of  the  gofpel  ? 

What  can  be  more  laudable  than  to  purfue  the  defign  of  our 
anceftors  ?  Or  what  can  be  more  criminal  than,  inftead  of  imi- 
tating their  love  and  zeal  for  truth  and  holinefs,  to  embrace  and 
advocate  error  and  live  in  hnpiety  ?  Did  it  not  add  greatly  tothc 
guilt  of  unbelieving  Jews,  tha:  Abraham  was  their  father  ?  Were 
not  the  Scribes  and  Pharifees  peculiarly  criminal  in  pretending 
to  venerate  the  2.^cien^  prop'-^N,  v.-hile  they  rejeded  and  per* 


(       20      ) 

fecuted  thofe  who  came  in  the  feme  fpvrit,  and  bore  wiinefs  to 
the  taiTic;  truths  ?  And  how  aggravated  muft  be  our  condeiiina- 
tion,if  we  not  only  refuie  to  imitate  the  piety  of  our  anctf- 
tors  ;  but  alio  oppofe,  wick  more  or  lefs  vehemence,  tae  caaie 
which  they  fo  zealoufly  promoted  ?     , 

Receive  in  love,  I  befeech  you,  the  doftrines  of  grace,  which 
ouranceftors  held  fo  dear.  Can  you  be  alhnmed  of  the  capical 
articles  of  theu"  faith,  unlefs  you  are  afbamed  ot  the  gofptl  ? 
And  can  you  be  alliamed  of  the  gofpel.  or  of  thofe  doctrines, 
which  are  its  efience  and  glory,  withcut  being  ailiruned  of 
Chrift  ?  What  then  woidd  be  your  doom  ?  Do  you  expect  to 
pofiefs  the  piety  of  our  anceilors,  while  you  reiedt  the  eliential 
do'itri'.ies  of  the  gofpel  ?  Such  an  expectat'on  mult  be  vain. 
Reje<ft  thefe  dovftrines,  and  your  character  mul  be  dire<5tiy  cp- 
pofite  to  theirs.  Reject  thefe  dodtrines,  and  how  abfurd  to  pre- 
tend that  you  belitve  the  gofpel  i  \S  hat,  pretend  to  btlieve  the 
gofpel,  and  yet  rt  ie(5l  its  cfitntial  doclrines  !  1  his  was  not  the 
manner  of  our  pious  ancellors  ;  nor  would  they  acknowledge 
any  to  be  their  children  wlio  Ih ould  manifelt  fuch  abfurdity  in 
their  conduct.  Repent,  my  fiicnds,  and  believe  the  gofpel. 
Receive  its  doctrines  in  love,  and  they  will  purify  the  heart  and 
produce  the  fruits  of  rightcoufnefc>.  Let  them  dwell  richly 
in  you,  and  you  will  not  deferve  the  nam.e  of  bigots  or  fanatics  : 
for  you  will  be  able  to  give  a  reafon  of  yoiu-  belief  and  hope,  and 
to  commend  yourfclvcs  to  every  man's  confcience  in  the  light 
of  God.  ^  ^  ,  •    _ 

Remember  the  falhatk  day^  to  keep  it  holy.  Would  you  be 
guilty  of  murder,  or  theft,  or  peijury  l  And  will  you  profane 
the  fabbath  ?  \S  hat  can  be  a  more  open  contempt  of  the  au- 
thority of  God,  or  of  the  bleifings  of  his  gra?e  ?  v\hat  can  be 
more  provoking  to  him,  or  dcLlructive  to  you?  Can  you  in- 
dulge a  hope  of  falvation,  while  you  prof.me  the  precious  memo- 
rial of  the  Saviour's  refurredion  ? 

Daily  unite,  I  befeech  you  in  the  worflrip  of  God.  How  can 
you  neglect  this  duty  or  defpife  this  priviirge  ?  Do  you  not  nee<l 
the  blcfTing  of  God  ?  Ouglit  you  not  to  acknowledge  hib  good- 
nefs  ?  If  you  live  without  praver,  will  your  families  differ  from 
the  heathen  ?  yes,  they  will  di^^^Yhv  being  Jiained  with  greater 
guilt.  What  will  it  avail  you  to  excel  the  heathen  in  knovledge, 
and  refmement,  while,  by  reftrainiug  prayer  before  God,  you 
become  more  deferving  of  his  wrath  ? 

Look  on  your  dear  children.  Realize  their  frail-y,  and  the 
worth  of  their  fouls.  Are  not  thefe  dyiwg  immortals  placed  pe- 
culiarly under  j;w/r  care  r  Is  not  their  inflraction  cominitted  to 
you  ?  Does  not  God  command  you  to  bing  them  up  in  the  nur^ 
ture  and  admonition  of  thi  Lord  ?  And  what  if  they  perifti 
through  your  negled  ?  How  then  could  you  meet  them  in  the 
pre  fence  of  your  Judge  ? 

Chriltian  brethren  .  wliat  exertions  are  required,  at  this  day, 
in  the  caufe  of  truth  and  holinefa  I  Behold  the  prevailing  here- 


(       21       ) 

fies  and  impiety,  and  can  you  be  inadlive  ?  How  would  your  pi- 
ous anccitors  feel  ;  ho.v  would  they  condutSt  ?  V^ould  thty  in- 
dulge a  flot  .ful  habit  i  Would  they  Ihrink  trom  any  labor,  oi* 
fufFerings  in  defence  of  the  truth  ?  Imbibe  their  fpirit,  and  you 
will  contend  earneftly  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  faints  ; 
and  decidedly  oppofe  every  fentimerlt,  which  exalts  linful  man, 
and  degrades  the  adorable  Saviour  to  a  mere  creature. 

Strive,  dear  Brethren,  to  promote  the  power  of  godlinefs.  Be 
not  aftiamtd  to  advocate  revivals  of  religion^  which  are  caufed 
fey  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  connexion  with  his  word  :  nor  be  mov- 
ed at  the  condud  of  thofe  who  call  fuch  revivals,  fanaticifm  and 
delufion,  except  to  be  moved  with  pity  and  concern  for  their 
fouls.*  Pray,  fervently  and  conftantly,  that  God  would  pour 
out  his  Spirit,  and  revive  his  work>  with  mighty  power.  Be 
deeply  fenfible,  that,  without  the  fpecial  grace  of  God,  our 
Churches  will  come  to  nothing,  or  worfe  than  nothing  ;  formal- 
ity  and  impiety  will  overfpread  our  congregations,  and  hnners 
rufh  on  to  dcftruction.  Can  you  be  unaffeded  v/ith  fuch  fcenes  ?- 
Can  you  fee  vice  and  impiety  abound,  and  fouls  perifla  forever, 
and  yet  make  no  exertions  to  promote  pure  religion  ? 

Efteemvtry  highly  the  inftituiions  of  thegofpel.  Be  deeply 
grieved  at  the  profanation  of  the  fabbath  ;  and  exert  all  yeur  in- 
fiuence  and  authority  to  prevent  it.  Imitate  the  example  of 
Nchemiah,  who  boldly  faid  to  fobbath-breakers,  What  evil  thing 
is  this  that  ye  do,  and  profane  the  fabbath  day  ?  Let  your 
whole  condud  teitify  your  reverence  for  the  day.    Let  it  never 

• 

*  No  dotibti  there  is  much  janattc'ifm  and  delufion  at  theprefent 

day.  For  Satan  transforms  himfelf  into  an  angel  of  light.>  that  he 
may  decei've  the  more  fuccefsfully.  IVhen  God  revives  his  ^work^ 
Satan  attempts  to  imitate  it  ;  as  the  magicians  attempted  to  imi- 
t ate  the  miracles  ^lur ought  by  Mofes.  A  genuine  re-vi-val  of  relig' 
ion  is  diflinguifhed  from  all  cciinterfelts  by  its  conformity  to  di'vine 
truth.  The  author  is  happy  to  a'uail  himfelf  of  the  teflimony  of  the 
General  AJJembly  of  the  Prefbytcrian  Church,  en  this  fubjed.  In. 
their  narrative  of  thefiate  of  religion,  publifhed  at  their  latefef- 
fiouy  ihcy  exprefly  dtcla.  e  that  they  ^'cannot  recog'nize  as  geriuine 
any  work  in  the  hearts  of  men,  bearing  the  namj  of  religion,  but 
that  which  is  produced  by  the  inflrumtntality  5/ truth,  ackno'iledg' 

es  and  honors  that  truth. In  thofe  parts  of  the  ClmrJ},  Without 

exception^  in  wbich  vital  religion  hasjlourifhed,  in  th:  ccurfe  of  the 
lajl  year,  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  gofpel ;  viz.  the  total 
depravity  of  human  nature,  the  divinity  and  atonement  of  Jefus 
Chri.i,  juflification  by  his  imputed  lighteoufnefs,  the  fovereignty 
and  freenefs  of  divine  grace,  and  the  fpecial  influences  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  the  regeneration  and  fanctification  of  tinners,  have 
been  decidedly  received  and  honor ed.^^ — Try  7rien  by  the  doctrines  of 
thegofpel^  if  you  would  know  whether  their  religious  exerci/es  are_ 
genuine* 


(       22       ) 

be  faid  that  chriflian  profeffbrs  profane  the  day  by  vain  and 
worldly  converfation,  or  any  unfuitable  condud:.  But  call  ths 
Sabbath  a  dd'tght-  the  Holy  of  the  Lord,  Honorable  ;  and  honor 
hln^  not  doing  thine  onvn  ways^  norjinding  thine  Ouvn  pka/ure,  nor 
Jpea^ingfbine  o^^un  nvords. 

With  fervent  love  and  lively  joy,  commemorate  the  death  of 
Chrift  ;  and  hi;|hly  prize  the  ordinarice  of  baptifm.  Efteem  it 
a  prfciouj  privile^'e,  to  enter  into  covenant  with  God  in  Cbrift  ; 
and  then  to  dtvote  to  him  your  beloved  children  Dear  Brethren, 
let  it  no  longer  be  tlioiight,  that  the  confccraiion  of  children  to 
God  in  baptifin  is  a  vain  thing.  Eut  lliew  iis  iniportance  by 
faiihfally  difcharging  your  duty  to  your  children.  In  this  way, 
convince  the  oppofers  of  infant  baptifm  of  their  error.  Have 
you  not,  too  long  and  too  juftly,  been  charged  with  negle<^ing 
the  religious  education  of  your  children,  after  dedicating  them 
to  God  in  baptifna  ?  Shall  this  charge  ftill  lie  againft  you  ?  O 
be  faithful  to  your  children.  Never  forget  their  confecration  to 
God  ;  but  let  it  quicken  you  in  every  parental  duty.  Fre- 
quently remind  them  of  their  baptifm,  and  urge  it,  as  a  motive, 
why  they  fliould  confent  to  be  the  Lord's.  Do  with  all  your 
might,  what  you  find  to  do  for  their  falvation.  How  folemn  is 
your  charge  !  how  great,  your  refponlibihty  ! 

Feel  the  vaft  importance  of  catechifing  children.  By  diligence 
in  this  mode  of  inftrudtion  the  Waldenfes  fuccelVfully  promoted 
the  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures.  *•  When  certain  Jefuits  were 
fent  among  them,  to  entice  them  from  the  truth  to  idolatry, 
they  returned  am.azed,  proft fling  that  children  of  feven  years 
^old,  among  the  V*  aldenfes,  knew  more  in  the  Scriptures  and  of 
the  myfteries  of  the  gofpel,  than  many  of  their  dodors  did." 
Exert  yourfclves,  my  Brethren,  to  revive  this  mode  of  inflruc- 
tion,  both  in  families  and  fchools.  What  better  method  can  be 
purfued,  to  make  our  children  acquainted  with  the  fcriptures.* 
3e  zealous  and  perfevering  in  this  bufinefs.  ixcite  ar,d  encour- 
age youth  and  children  to  attend  to  the  Bible  and  Catechifm. 
Shew  them  the  great  importance  of  religious  inf^nidion.  Let 
them  fee  that  their  parents  and  inftrudors  are  deeply  concerned 
for  their  v^^elfare.  Let  them  feel  that  you 'defire  and  fervently 
pray  for  the  falvation  of  their  fouls. 

Let  this  fubjed  deeply  engage  the  atcention  of  Cluirches. 
Has  not  every  Church  of  Chrift  important  duties  to  difcharge 
tou^ards  their  children  ?  Are  chriftian  brethren,  in  covenant  re- 
lation with  each  other,  to  exprcfs  no  concern  for  each  other's 
ihiidren  ?  Doesthe  promiie  of  God  to  pour  Jiis  Spirit  on  the 
children  of  the  Church,  impofe  on  them  no  obligation  to  fee 
whether  their  children  are   partakers  of  this  grace  ?    Can  a 

"'  For   this  purpof.'  I  r^uould  particularly  recommend    *'  the 

EVANGELICAL   PRIMER  ;    BY     THE    ReV.  JOSEPH     EmERSON  q/* 

Beverly." — //  ij  i>.vy  dejral/l^f  that  this  may  be  ujed  in  every 
family y  and  in  tuery  fchooU 


f     =3    ) 

Church  unite  in  dedicating  their  cliiUj-en  to  God  i.\  Laptifm, 
that  ti'icy  may  be  his,  ar;d  yet  have  nothing  more  to  do  for  thcin  ? 
What  a  proftitution  this  wonld  be  of  their  baptism  ?  Whnt  a 
rieglect,  not  to  iay  contempt,  of  the  promile  ?  And  how  oppofitc 
to  all  the  didatcs  of  that  love,  which  feeketh  not  her  own  ?  Let 
the  fubjtct,  my  Brethren,  be  well  conQdered.  Let  the  Church 
and  their  c'.iildren  come  together  for  prayer  and  religious  con- 
ference ;  let  all  the  members  be  fervent  in  love  to  each  other  and 
to  the  children  ;  exercife  a  lively  faith  in  the  promife  ;  and  real- 
ize covenaTit  engagements;  and  v/ould  nothing  be  done  for  the 
falvatiop.  of  the  children  ?  Would  no  inftructions,  no  exhorta- 
ti-ons-  no  admonitions  be  given  them  ?  It  has  been  prad:ifed  in 
New  England,  for  a  Church  to  fet  apart  days,  to  befeech  the 
Lord  to  pour  his  Spirit  on  their  childreoc  Ought  not  the  prac- 
tife  to  be  revived  ?* 

Let  our  Churches  be  ftricft  in  the  admiflion  of  members  ;  and 
united  in  reviving  gofpel  difcipline.  What  can  be  more  condu- 
cive to  their  purity,  peace,  and  profperity.  Let  perfons  be  ad- 
mitted without  a  faithful  examination,  and  difcipline  neglefted, 
and  our  Churches  Avill  be  coirupted  and  ruined.  Be  faithful, 
beloved  Brethren,  in  thefe  tvv^o  important  concerns.  Be  faith- 
ful to  each  other,  in  mutual  watchfulnefs  and  reproof.  Exhort 
one  anothar  daily ^  leji  any  be  hardened  through  the  decsitfulttefs  of 
fin. 

Let  the  friends  of  evangelical  truth  be  more  united,  and  adt 
more  in  concert.  Let  there  be  more  piouf?,  prayerful  confulta- 
tionsfor  the  advancement  of  Chrift's  caufe.  Beware  of  the  ad- 
verfary,  whofe  policy  it  is  to  excite  jealoufy  and  fov,^  difcord 
among  brethren.  He  dreads  their  united  influence.  Being 
agreed  in  the  efTentials  of  chriftianity>  never  let  a  difference  of 
opinion  on  munor  fubjeds  divide  you.  Love  one  another,  with 
a  pure  heart  fervently  ;  and  he  perfectly  joined  together  in  the  fame 
mindy  and  in  the  fame  judgme-nt. 

Vigoroufly  puifuc  every  lawful  method  to  advance  the  caufe 
of  truth.  1  he  glory  of  God  ;  the  honor  of  the  Redeemer ; 
the  falvation  of  immortal  fouls  ;  and  your  own  higheft  bleifed- 
nefs,  require  it.  Let  no  difficulties,  no  oppof;tion,  no  trials 
move  you  from  the  path  of  duty.  Be  ftedfaft  in  the  faith.  When 
others  forfake  the  caufe  tbey  once  efpoufed  ;  or  boldly  advance 
and  warmly  advocate  opinions,  fubverfive  of  the  gofpel ;  let 
your  attachment  to  the  truth,  be  more  ardent  and  vigorous. 
Let  it  prompt  you  to  greater  exertions.  Declare  the  whole 
counfel  of  God,  as  duty  fliali  require.    Never  liften  to  the  infi- 

*  The  General  Afje-mbly,  in  their  narrati've,  referred  to  in  a  pre- 
ceding  riotey  fay.  **  The  means ^  in  addition  to  the  preaching  of  the 
tivordf  (vjhich  God  has  o'duned  and  blejjed,  ares  catechihng  and 
prayer  meetings.  And  the  AJfetnrly  h  ul  it  as  an  aufpicious  oment 
thaty  upon  many  of  his  people  and  Churches ^  God  has  poured  oat  a 
Spirit  of  grace  i^nd  f application  ** 


(       24       ) 


del  fentiment,  that  if  a  man's  life  be  regular,  it  is  no  matter 
what  he  believes.  But  remember  that  men  can  never  be  fandti- 
fied  and  faved,  except  through  the  truth.  To  attempt  their 
converfion,  Vv'hile  the  dodrinesof  grace  arc  concealed  or  deni- 
ed, is  beating  the  air.  In  defence  of  thefe  doctrines,  unite  zeal 
and  meekneffi,  rcfolutioH  and  prayer. 

Be  excited  to  greater  zeal  by  the  laudable  exertions  of  others. 
Behold  the  friends  of  Jcfas  uniting  in  the  fame  grand  defign. 
See  what  noble  efforts  are  made.  ConOder  what  has  been 
done,  within  a  few  ^-ears.  to  advance  the  caufe  of  truth.  En- 
gage in  this  caufe,  with  all  your  hearts  ;  for  it  will  profper  ;  it 
•will  rife  triumphant,  above  all  oppofition.  It  is  the  caufe  of  Je- 
hovah. V,  ith  growing  zeal,  employ  your  time,  your  talents, 
and  all  you  have,  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  Animated  with 
the  fpirit  of  martyrs,  go  forward  boldly  in  his  fervice.  Con- 
fide in  the  grace  and  power  of  Jehovah — Jefus.  His  grace  is 
fufRcient  for  you.  His  power  will  uphold  and  defend  you,  till 
your  warfare  is  acomplifhed  ;  and  then  crown  you  with  eternal 
glory.  Beyejlrongi  therefore,  and  let  not  your  bands  be  iveak  ;for 
your  ^MQrkJhall  hs  rewarded.— fiMEn, 


i 


